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Save the date to save on your capital medical equipment….

Monday 30 January 2017

Multi Trust Aggregation (MTA) is now a familiar concept in relation to the procurement of capital equipment. It was developed over 12 months ago and is designed to aggregate equipment requirements across multiple Trusts to achieve savings based on volume. This article explores the benefits of MTA and how by collaborating closely with NHS trusts we aim to increase their scope in 2017.

To date MTA’s have delivered in excess of £2m of incremental savings back to the NHS across 23 equipment areas. Whilst this is not insignificant we know we can improve the process and deliver more savings.

In order to support the delivery of MTA’s, and to encourage collaboration across NHS Trusts, we have implemented regional groups for you to participate in. The purpose of these groups are for you to be able to get together with your peer group and look at potential opportunities for equipment aggregation, savings delivery and ways to resolve challenges preventing participation.

“By attending quarterly collaborative meetings, along with other member Trusts, we can draw on a wealth of experience and gain a better understanding about Multi Trust Aggregation (MTAs) enabling us to plan around them”Kathryn Potts,Contracts Development Lead, Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

These groups have proven instrumental in shaping our savings strategy for 2017/18. For example, an output of the sessions held to date has been the development of an MTA calendar to help co-ordinate procurement activity across the NHS. For those of you interested in attending a collaborative session, the calendar can be found here.

Our team of Capital Planners will work with you to align your requirements to the predetermined timescales, and support with the procurement process to ensure that you receive maximum savings on your equipment requirements.

The groups will continue throughout 2017 and we would welcome additional Trusts and stakeholders to get involved to support this initiative and to provide feedback on your overall engagement with NHS Supply Chain. This is to ensure that we continuously improve our service to the NHS.

“It is really positive to see that the NHS Supply Chain Capital team are taking the time to engage with their customers, encouraging dialogue and joint ways of working to support the delivery of the savings agenda.”Simon Walsh,Procurement Director, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust